
North Korea Morphology and Culture
MORPHOLOGY
Structurally, North Korea is an appendage of the lands of archaeozoic origin that form the rear of Manchuria: in fact it consists of a Precambrian base largely covered by paleozoic rocks, which were subjected to intense corrugations and tectonic displacements, so as to fragment into a kind of Horst and depressions with a prevalent SW-NE direction, according to the general trend of the fracture lines that affected East Asia, from China to Japan. A prolonged erosive activity gave rise to vast penepians, further modified by tectonic movements that determined the essential lines of the current orography. The region was also affected by periodic submersions, as attested by the sedimentary layers of the Mesozoic (widespread above all in the peninsular part) and of the Cenozoic. (isolated formations on the eastern side of the peninsula). In the northern areas, on the other hand, the point of convergence of various mountainous arches, there was a strong volcanic activity in the Cenozoic, which determined impressive basaltic effusions. The country is characterized by an extensive mountainous area, albeit with mostly senile forms due to the long erosive action it has undergone; this mountainousness is accentuated in the N and in the central-eastern section, while in the W flat areas prevail. The northern mountainous area, connected to the highlands of Manchuria and therefore well welded to the continental mass, consists largely of the Gaema plateau (1500 of average altitude), dominated by some ranges (Nangrim, Macheonryeong, Myohyang mountains) and isolated mountains, including numerous Cenozoic volcanoes and various peaks that exceed 2000 m. Maximum elevation of whole of Korea is Mount Paektu (2744 m), which rises on the border with China (in Chinese, Pait’ou-Shan) and is also a long-extinct volcano: Korea in fact, unlike neighboring Japan, no longer has volcanic activity. These reliefs are usually arranged parallel to the edge of the continental mass. The plains prevail, as mentioned, in the western regions (where, for example, the plains of Pyongyang are found) and are mostly animated by hilly reliefs. North Korea has a more regular coast to the E (which also forms the so-called Gulf of Korea), and fringed by a short sandy band, and a very indented coast to the W, which offers good conditions for both port activity and for ‘settlement. The coast overlooking the Sea of Japan, although not morphologically favored, Curoscivo that mitigates the harshness of winter, so that along a large part of this coast the sea water temperature always remains above zero, while in winter the coasts facing the northern Yellow Sea are blocked by ice.
CULTURE
According to physicscat, North Korea is administered by a government system which, since the creation of the Republic, has not allowed and still does not allow almost any opening, not only political or economic, but also and above all cultural, with foreign countries and with the West in particular.. This isolationist conduct, while facilitating to some extent the safeguarding of ancient traditions and millenary customs, a heritage of absolute value, has certainly prevented comparison with other cultures and denied citizens the opportunity to experiment with different ways of life, habits, practices, in the same way that it took away from the country’s economy the possibility of a more structured and organic development. The means of communication and dissemination of, which determines the editorial line, contents and forms. The artistic-cultural panorama also presents a scenario in which, on every aspect, the shadow of government control lies. Writers, musicians, dancers and artists in general work exclusively for public institutions such as the National Theater for the Arts or the National Orchestra. Similarly, the works are largely celebrations of the country’s leader (especially of the late “eternal president” Kim-Il-Sung, rather than of his son and successor Kim Iong-Il), the history of the nation or the civil war. The only area in which contemporary influences have expressed themselves is architecture. In large cities, alongside traditional buildings, skyscrapers and modern complexes typical of industrial societies have sprung up. Of particular interest are some archaeological sites in the country: one of these, the Koguryo Tombs Complex, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. Finally, the two most interesting museums in North Korea are located in the capital Pyongyang: the Korean Revolutionary Museum (Museum of the revolution) and the Korean Fine Arts Museum, which houses traditional artistic objects and artifacts.